[luciafam]

Hi,

I recently got a protein skimmer, the AquaC Remora Hang on, along with the pre-skimmer box. Prior to the skimmer box being installed, the skimmer was removing so much that we constantly had to dump the 5 gal bucket (got the kind that allows you to attach a hose to dump it in another location rather then the little cup on top). We are currently running medication through the tank due to Ick and infection. We are using Stop Parasite and Melafix, both which are reef safe. Anyhow, we have had overflows on the 5 gal bucket at night. We have had to replace water constantly. After installing the skimmer box, we kind of have the same problem, but a bit different. Now, due to the water level going down so fast, it will only skim a short period of time before the level goes below the skimmer box. I have to be on alert and constantly add water to keep it high enough to flow through the skimmer box.

I have another two days of medication treatment left, and then am going to finally insert carbon filters back in my regular filter. Does this amount of discharge from the skimmer seem normal. Our water clearity is very low right now because of the medications (the stop parasite is a rust green color) and probably more do to no filtration for the past 2 weeks. We were about ready to stop treatment, but our clown developed Ick, so we have continued it longer.

I think I did read on the Chem Marin site (Stop Parasite) to watch for skimmer over flows, so I assuming this is a normal reaction, but just wanted to check. Thanks.

Bev

[RyanG]

Bev what kind of skimmate are you getting with the Remora?

[luciafam]

I'm sorry, I don't understand the question. What do you mean by skimmate? If it means what does the expelled stuff look like, then it is kind of a yellow/green color. I assume that is from the medication. It may take a while for the medication to be fully removed. It is sometimes more of a brown color. It is smelly, but not terrible so. I smell the medication in it.

We have gone through so many water additions. I am treating a sore shoulder right now because I lifted a 5 gallon water container and pulled something. I have to add about 2 gallons of water every few hours. We have been turning the skimmer off at night because it will run dry and we don't want to burn it out. The skimmer box has a place for 3 screws to hold in the pump and we only needed to use to, so there is one little hole where the water can still come in and I think that has saved us when we forget to either add water or turn it off. But this has become a full time job watching the water level and topping it off constantly.

Bev

[mcintosh]

The quick answer is yes it is normal for the skimmer to go crazy when you add medicines. Most medicines will cause your skimmer to foam like crazy. You probably should turn the skimmer off(or at least remove the skimmate box that the remora deposits your skimmate in) during the treatment process as it is diluting your medicine treatment and not really performing its job.

What is your salinity at now? Have you been topping the tank with saltwater or fresh?

Good luck.

[luciafam]

Well, I am using the unconventional method of treating within the tank. The Stop Parasite medicine does not kill the parasites per say, but does the following: It gives the fish a slimy coating so that the parasites cannot stay attached and slide off, it also provides a false nutrition supply because the parasites are attracted to it, but it gives them no nutritional value, so some will die this way; finally, the particles of the Stop Parasite float around in the tank and the parasites attach to them and then in the process get skimmed away by the protein skimmer. So, this is one of those medications that pretty much rely on the protein skimmer to rid your tank of the parasites. Most meds kill them or the newborn stage of them, but this actually removes them. I am also treating with Melafix, which is also reef safe. I have spent much time talking with the creator of Stop Parasite and he is actually apposed to the quarantining process or Hypo due to the fact that removing a fish from the home is has gotten used to brings on a lot of stress, increasing its susceptibility to illness. Then once you have it quarantined and have gotten it all better, which can be several weeks, and it has settled in to its new home, you go through the process of plunking it back into the main tank, where it feels a bit out of the pecking order, or has lost its hiding places, etc., and the stress hits again, thereby again, making it susceptible once again. On top of that, the other fish also may become stressed by the removal and return of the sick fish. Anyhow, this is the theory behind the Stop Parasite and not quarantining. The owner said he never quarantines, even new arrivals, but just treats with Stop Parasite and Melafix and has not lost a fish yet. He also stated that he sells his product worldwide and his customers do not lose fish either. After removing a sick fish to my quarantine tank and having it die overnight while at the same time keeping one sick fish in the tank and treating from there and having it survive, I have decided to try this rather unconventional method. I will keep this site posted on the health of my fish. So, I guess I have to continue my method with the protein skimmer until I am sure my sick fish are healthy. My tang, the one I left in the main tank, is doing so well. It just has some skin healing to do and I am continuing treatment for infection with the Melafix. But it is active and eating and it was near death about a week ago. When I stopped treating with the Stop Parasite for her, I realized a few days later that my clown had some on it, so that is why I am still treating. I will go another 3 days and reassess their health. Thanks again for the help.

Bev

[Steevo]

Hi Bev, what parasite are you treating? some how Im guessing ich. Steve

[JohnnyM2]

Have you tried raising your collection cup (slide the o-ring down)? It sounds like you are getting a very wet skimmate. If you adjust the collection cup you should get a good skimmate without just bubbling all your water out of the tank.

[chappy]

erm i used to work at a store in texas and we never treated the tank we would catch the fish and treat them outside of the tank to aviod probs like this

[luciafam]

Thank you so much for the info on that ring! I did not know what it was for. I changed it when I got the post and everything has been so much better! Now what I get is a much thicker yuck and rarely have to add water to replinish from the skimmer.

Yes Steevo, I was treating for ICK. Everything worked out okay. My tang is better and no more outbreaks. I will treat this way again in the future. I know that most of the experts are for quarantining, but that just isn't an option for most of my fish. I have a lot of rockwork and I would literally have to remove all of the rock in order to get to fish like my tang. Using the Stop Parasite method, my fish are spared the stress from me trying to chase them around with a net, which just leads to more stress and more sickness. I also used the Melafix and pimafix which helped cure the infection pretty quick.

I was told to add the Stop Parasite for 3 days in a row anytime I get new fish and that should ward off any ICH that they may have brought with them.

Still, a question I have and am confused about. I hear that you need to get rick of the ICH entirely, each time to avoid further outbreaks. But then I hear also that ICH is always around and it's when your fish's immune system gets compromised that the ICH will attack. So, which is it? Is ICK around much like Staff infection is on and around everything in the human population. You don't get a Staff infection unless your immune is compromised, etc. Or, is it more like a temporary thing, that once you get rid of it, it will never appear again in your system, unless you introduce new fish that may be carrying it?

Anyway, thanks again for the input!

Bev

[WorkinMan]

I found this, Algone.com - Ich and your aquarium fish, on itch. According to the information provided, the parasites that cause itch will always be present in an aquarium once they are introduced. As long as the fishes immune system is not compromised in any way, they can keep the parasite at bay. Once the immune system is weaked due to stress (from bully tankmates, bad water quality, newly introduced to the tank, etc...) is when the parasite is able to attack the fish and cause outbreaks once again. This is the main reason many people promote the idea of a strict quarantine period before the introduction of any new tankmates. If you don't introduce it to your tank, you will have less of a chance of having problems with it in the future. Hope this helps!

[c-c]

Bev,

I always enjoy reading the threads you post because I'm usually going through the same problem.
So I take note.

GREAT RESOURCE from Workingman, THANKS alot for recommending that web site!

I learned that the the ENCYSTED stage of the ich parasite is resistant to most treatments and remains in the GRAVEL of the aquarium. Have you tried the freshwater dip on your fish? I've heard it is only effective in killing parasites on the fish but does little to treat the tank. Therefore you must maintain levels of medicine in the tank until all the cysts embedded in the gravel, complete their complex life cycle into the stage of organism tomite stage)where they can be killed.

Bev, I'm glad you got your skimmer working better with help from Johnny. Also, is your shoulder problem better from lifting so many buckets of water???
c-c

[WorkinMan]

Glad to help!